Bexhill man’s battle with breast cancer
A BEXHILL man fighting breast cancer is urging other men to be aware that they can develop the illness just like women.
Roy Collins , 57, of Barrack Road was diagnosed in October and had a full mastectomy of the right breast and removal of infected lymph nodes under his right arm.
He is almost at the end of 18 weeks of chemotherapy which will be followed by radiotherapy and then daily hormone tablets for five years.
He told the Observer about his concern that few men are aware of breast cancer as a threat to their own health and little is said about it.
He said: “Us fellas need to check ourselves as women do. Sadly, I know of no others, including my elder brother, who give it any thought at all.
“I’m told it is on the increase and recognition of that fact must be put out there for all to see.
“Ten minutes with your GP and your mind is at rest.”
Family man Roy was in the bathroom when wife Tessa noticed he had an inverted nipple.
He thought nothing of it but Tessa, an experienced nurse and sister at the Irvine Unit, insisted he go to the GP.
Roy was soon examined and said it was obvious his doctor realised something was seriously wrong.
He was swiftly referred to the Conquest where it was discovered he had a 6cm lump behind the right nipple.
He was told the lump might have been there for three months and knows if found earlier the treatment might not have been so invasive.
He was operated on almost immediately and released next day because Tessa herself was able to deal with his medical needs at home.
He is now almost at the end of his chemo regime, “just one bag to go”, and, though he has good days and bad, is optimistic and looking forward.
“I have a positive mental attitude - I’ve always had it. It’s one of those things I am blessed with.”
Now he wants to highlight the problem of breast cancer in men and raise awareness that it is on the increase.
He commented: “I know statistics can be mind-blowing at times, but these we ignore at our peril.”
“All I want now is to raise awareness, to make men out there aware that you can be a 57-year-old fit-as-a-butcher’s-dog bloke like me who had nothing more sinister in life than a broken ankle, and then this. I don’t do “ill”. I don’t do “sick. I don’t have time off work. I am not the sort of guy who collapses like a paper bag.
“But this is something I have no control over and for someone like me that is a hard thing.
“No matter how big and brave you are, what you have been through, it makes no difference. This is inside you.”
He and Tessa also want to highlight and praise the attention and care Roy received at the Conquest Hospital, from Miss Elizabeth Shah, Dr Jill Sandler, and team, as well as the Macmillan nurses.
They say all of his treatment has been prompt and efficient and that they couldn’t have asked for more - even on Boxing Day when Roy needed help and turned up at the Conquest he was seen by a doctor within minutes.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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